Electrically-operated circuit-breaker.



H. L. VAN VALKENBURG. ELEGTRICALLY OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, 1905. 987,775.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

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gal/F24 mv trnn STATES PATEnCr orrio HERMON LpVAN VALKENBURG, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIG-INOR TO BUXJLUGK EBECTEIG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 15. GGRPORATION OF OHIC I ELECTRICAL LY-OP ERATED CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented liflar. 2 53, 1337i Application filed October 27, 1905. Serial No. 284,743.

torrand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is a -full, clear and exact specification. v My invention relates to circuit-breakers and especially to the electrically operated type. c r v I An electrically operatedcircuit-breaker is closed bysome electromagnetic mechanism as anordinary motor, a solenoid or some other type of magnet, the movable member of which is connected in some manner to the movable part of the circuit-breaker. The

' coil or coils the operating mechanism. are

connectedhy a switch to any desired source of current. When it is desired to close the breaker this switch is closed. As long as this switch remains closed and the circuit is completed through thecoil or coils. of the closing mechanism the circuit-breaker will be held in its closed position, irrespective of the action of an tripping or releasing mechanism. Thus i the circuit-breaker is closed and maintained closed in this manner while an overload or short circuit exists, great damage may result to the apparatus con nected to the distributing mains.

The objectof my invention is to provide means for automatically breaking the cir 'cuit through the coil or coils oi the closing or operating mechanism in case the. overload exists when the switch in the circuit of. the coil of the opcratingmechanisin is closed.

In carrying out my invent-ion, I provide in the circuit of the coil of the closing mechanism of an electrically operated switch or circuit-breaker, an auxiliary switch or cir cuit-hreaker for automatically opening the said circuit in case the latter'is closed while an overload exists on the main line.

More specifically considered, my invention consists in acircuit-breakcr having a closing magnet and a trippingmagnet, a switch for completing the circuit through the closing:

magnet, and an auxiliary circuit-breaker having 'afltripping coil connected to the switch and having a circuit which is adapted to be closed by an overload-relav cvnnected to the main circuit, whereby the circuit through the closing magnet will be broken in case the switch is closed when an overload exists on the main circuit.

lily invention still further consists in the combinations of elements and arrangements of circuits described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

My inventionis not limited to any particulartype of closing mechanism. A magnet or solenoid having a reciprocating armature connected to the circuit-breaker may employed for closing the latter. In this case, by closing the circuit through the coil of the magnet by an ordinary switch, the breaker can he closed. In case the magnet circuit is maintained closed the circuitbreaker may he thereby held in its closed position although an overload may exist on the main line. placing an auxiliary cir cuit-breaker in the circuit of the magnet, this circuit can he immediately broken in case an overload exists. l lence the main circiiit-brealcer can never be held in its closed position for any length of time while an overload exists. An ordinary motor, having a rotaryarmature connected in any man nor to the movable member of the circuitbreaker, can also be employed for operating the breaker. By placing an auxiliary cireuitlnreahcr in the motor circuit the latter circuit can he opened in case of overload. in the descriptirm and claims I intend the word magnet to include also the ordinary solenoid. m

For a. better understanding of my invention'refercnce is had to the accompanying drawing which shows diagran'nnatically thecircuits and switches arranged in accordance with my invention. 1: have shown at. l 2 and 3, the mains of a three-phase circuit, in which is located a thrcepole circuit breaker A. W'hnc l have shown a three, phase circuit, it is to be understood that the application of my invention is not linnted to a circuit of this type, hut my invention may he used in an alternating currentcircuit of any number of phases or in a direct current circuit. In case the circuit-brealrer A is locatedjin a direct current main, a single overload coil located directly in the main would be employed. In two of the breaker A.

4 and 5, the secondaries of which are connected to the coils 6 and 7 of the overload relays 8. and 9 by conductors 10, 11 and 12.

I For the sake ofclearness, a battery 13 having mains or leads 14; and 15 is shown for supplying current to the circuit controlling members. The solenoid for tripping or releasing the circuit-breaker A. is shown at 16 and has a coil 17 connected to the battery main's l4 and 15, by conductors 18 and 19. The circuit of this solenoid is normally open and is adapted to be closed by the relays 8 and 9. The contacts 20' are so arranged that the circuit through the coil of the tripping solenoid 16 can be completed by either of the i'claysolenoids 8 and 9. Thus the circuit-breaker A will be opened in case the overload or short circuit occurs in any of the phases. As is shown in the drawing, the circuit-breaker is held in the closed position until an overload occurs and the coil 17 is energized, when the core of the solenoid 16 will be operated to rehase the circuit-breaker. I have in this instance shown a solenoid 21 for closing the circuitbreaker A. The coil of this solenoid is connected' across the mains 1e and 15 of the battery, through the ordinary closing switch 22. The core of the solenoid 21 is connected to the movable member of the circuit- The coil of this solenoid is consaid coil is completed, circuit-breaker A will be closed. The arrangements of circuits and switches so far described are old and I claim no novelty therein. It will also be seen that unless some means is provided for interrupting the circuit through the coil of the solenoid 21, the circuit-breaker will be held in its closed position as long as the switch 22 is closed, regardless of the fact that the overload in the mains may continue. I

I provide means whereby the circuit through the coil of'the closing member 21 will be immediately broken and the circuitbreaker A opened in case the latter is closed while the overload continues. I'Vith this end in view I insert in the circuit of-thc closing member 2], an auxiliary switch or circuitbreaker 24, which is provided with a trip ping or releasing solenoid 25, the coil 26 of which is connected in this case to the switch 22 and the circuit of the coil 17 of the releasing solenoid16 for the main circuitbreaker A. It will be seen that when the switch 22 is closed, and the circuit through the main releasing or tripping coil 17 is completed as is always the case when an overload exists, the coil 26 will be energized. Before the circuit-breaker A can be closed by operating the switch 22 the switch 24 must first be closed. The result is that if the circuibbreaker A is closed by closing the switch 22 while the overload exists, the soleacid 25 will immediately open the switch or circuit-breaker 24 and break the circuit through the coil of the closing member 21. Thus the circuit-breaker will be opened at once and no damage can be done to the apparatus.

I have shown at 27 a switch located in a conductor 28-, which bridges the contacts adapted to be closed by the relay-plungers. Thus by means of the switch 27 the circuit breaker A can be opened at will.

I do not wish to be confined to the specific arrangements of circuits shown and described, nor to any particular types of switch or circuitbreakers,' as many changes could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I aim in my claims to cover all such changes or modifications.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination, main circuit conductors, a circuit-breaker having movable and stationary contact members, automatic trip ping or releasing mechanism for said circuitbreaker, an electromagnetic device for closing the movable member of said circuitbreaker, a switch in a circuit of said device, and means fc automatically opening said switch, said means being dependent on the energization of said circuit of said electromagnetic device while an overload exists in the main circuit.

2. In combination, main circuit ,oonductorsfa.circuit-breaker having movable and.

stationary contact members, an automatic tripping or releasing mechanism for said circuit-breaker, a magnet for closing the contact members of said eircuitbreaker, a switch in circuit with the coil of said magnet, and a tripping magnet which when energized causes the opening of said lastnamed switch and which is energized only in case the circuit through the closing magnet is completed during the existence of an over load in the main circuit.

3. In combination, main circuit-conductors, a cireuitbreaker, a magnet for closing the movable member thereof, means for tripping said-movable member, a. switch for closing the circuit through the coil of said closing magnet, and means for automatically interrupting said circuit, said means being, dependent on having said switch closed while an overloadflxists ontlie'main circuit.'

ii In combination, a circuit-breaker having a closing magnet, means for automatically opening said circuit-breaker, a switch for completing the circuit through said closing magnet to close the circuit-breaker, and an auxiliary circuit-breaker which operates to break the circuit of the coil of said c10sing' magnet, said auxiliary circuit-breaker being lependent upon the existence of an overload while said switch is closed.

5. 1'1 ombination, main circuit-conducnot a n d a.

tors, acircuithreahcr having a closing net and a tripping or releasing magnet,

means including on auxiliary circuit-brealer for connecting the closing mao'netto a source of current supply, and a tripping coil said auxiliary circuiobrealrer Which dependent for its operation both on the cnergization of the circ iit of said closing magnet and the existence of an overload in in the circuit of the coil of said closing magnet, a tripping magnet for said switch,

an overload relay responsive to the current in the main circuit and operating upon excessive current to complete the circuit of the first mentioned tripping 'magnct, and also thatoit the swfioiul provided the circuit of said closing magnet is energized.

S. In combination, main circuit conduc- 7 tors, av circuihbrealcer ha ring a closing magnet and a tripping or releasing magnet, and a switch and an auxiliary clrcult-hreaker in circuit w h the closing magnet, said auxiliary cii'cuit-brcaher having at tripping, coil connected to said switch and to the circuit of said first mentioned tripping coil whereby the circpit through the closing magnet Will be broken when the latter is energized at the time an overload exists in. the main cir- 9. In coi'ubination, main circuit-conductors, a. circuit-breaker having a. closing's0le noid and a trippii'ig or releasing solenoid, an overload relay for closing the circuit through the coil of the tripping solenoid, and a switch and an auxiliary 'bircuit-brealrer in circuit with tneclosing solenoid, said auxiliary circuit-l'n'caker having a tripping'coil connected to one member of the switch and to the circuit of the first named tripping solenoid so that the circuit through the coil of the closing; solenoid will be broken if an overloi-rd occurs in the main circuit when the s itch closed.

10. In combination, an electric circuit, an electromagnetic circuit-lu'ealrcr therein, electromagnetic means for closing said circuitbreaker, manually controlled means for causing the energization of said electromagnetic means, and means se arate from the circuithreaher and arrange to cause the deenergisaid auxiliary circuit-brealrer arranged to be energized When both said overload relay and said switch are closed.

12. In combination, a circuit-breaker arranged to be opened automatically upon the occurrence of predetermined abnormal conditions, power-operated means for closing said circuitsbreaker, means for admitting en ergy to operate said power-operated means,

and means for automatically disconnecting,

such supply of energy, said last named means being dependent upon the existence of the aforesaid predetermined. abnormal con? ditions during t supply of energy to said power-operated means.

13. In combination, main. circuit-conductors, a circuit-breaker having a tripping or releasing magnet, power-operated means for closing said circuit-breaker, means for ad-.

mitting energy to operate said power-operatedmeans, and automatic means for shutting off the supply of energy to said poweroperatcd means, said automatic means re quiring for its operation hoth that the said tripping magnet be energized and that said energy-admitting means he in energy admih,

ting position.

.14. In combination, a circuit-breaker which is tripped automatically upon the occurrence of predetermined ,ahnormal conditions, power-operated means for closing said circuibbreaker, two devices through which the energy for operating said power-operated means passes in series, one of said de vices being arranged to shut ofi' such supply of energy in case the other of said devices is in a position to admit energy at the some time that such predetermined abnormal conditions exist.

15. In combination, a circuit-breaker which is tripped automatically upon the occurrence of predetermined abnormal conditions, power-operated means for closing said circuit-breaker, two devices through which the energy for operating said powenoperated means passes in series, one of said devices being hand-operated and the other being automatically moved out of energynd mitting position in case the manually operated device is in cnergyaidmittiug position at the some time that such predetermined abnormal conditions exist.

16. In combination, a. circuit-breaker arranged to be opened automatically upon the occurrence of predetermined abnormal conditlons, power-operated means for closing said circuit-breaker, means for admitting en-' ergy to operate said power-operated means, and means for automatically causing the shutting oii of the supply of energy to said power-operated means in case energy is being supplied thereto simultaneously with Witnesses FRED J. KINSEY, GEORGE J. SCHWARTZ.

Correction in Letters Patent N0.'987,775-

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 987,77 5, granted March 28, 191i; upon the application of Hermon L. Van Valkenhurg, of Norwood, Ohio, for an improvement in Electrically-Operated Circuit Breakers, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 3-1, the period and the words 'Jlhe coil of this solenoid is 0011- should be stricken out and a comma and the words and when the circuit through the inserted instead; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame'muy conform to the record of the case in the Patent Otfieei Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, D.,, 1911.

O. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

